U.S. citizens who travel abroad should always have a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.

Esmeraldas, Carchi, and Sucumbíos Provinces – Level 4: Do Not Travel

Since January 2018, a transnational crime group has kidnapped and murdered Ecuadorian citizens in Esmeraldas province, in addition to carrying out bombings targeting Ecuadorian military and law enforcement.

The U.S. government is limited in its ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in the Colombian border area, as U.S. government personnel cannot travel to the provinces of Esmeraldas, Carchi, and Sucumbíos without permission from the Embassy’s security office. However, U.S. government personnel are permitted to travel to the northern bank of the Napo River in Sucumbíos, an area approximately four miles wide.

Ecuadorian law does not allow an Ecuadorian child to travel to the United States to be adopted. Therefore, prospective adoptive parents must obtain a full and final adoption under Ecuadorian law before the child can immigrate to the United States.

Ecuadorian law gives preference to adoptions to Ecuadorian nationals living in Ecuador. Intercountry adoptions are limited to exceptional cases which involve children with disabilities and/or older than four years of age and/or groups of siblings who have not been able to be placed with local families. Prospective adoptive parents seeking to adopt a blood relative in Ecuador (such as a nephew, niece, grandchild, or great-grandchild) should contact the Ecuadorian Central Authority prior to beginning the adoption process.

Note: Special transition provisions apply to adoptions initiated before April 1, 2008. Read about Transition Cases.

Additionally, a child must meet the definition of a Convention adoptee under U.S. immigration law in order to be eligible to immigrate to the United States with an IH-3 or IH-4 immigrant visa.

Who Can Adopt

In addition to the U.S. requirements, prospective adoptive parents need to meet Ecuador’s requirements to adopt a child from Ecuador:

Residency: There are no minimum residency requirements to adopt in Ecuador. However, both prospective adoptive parent(s), if applicable, must be present to complete the adoption in Ecuador. This process typically takes 6 to 8 weeks. Once an adoption decree is issued, at least one parent is required to remain in Ecuador with the child to complete the adoption process, usually an additional week.

Age of Adopting Parents: If married, both parents must be over 25 years of age and have been married for more than three years. There must be an age difference of at least 14 years between the younger parent and the child and no more than 45 years between the older parent and the child.

Marriage: Both single and married individuals may apply to adopt. Ecuadorian law only recognizes opposite sex marriages. An unmarried (single, widowed, divorced) adoptive parent may only adopt a child of the same sex, unless the National Adoption Agency issues a favorable report for adoption of a child of the opposite sex. Priority is given to married prospective parents.

Income: Prospective adoptive parents must demonstrate the means to support the physical, emotional and financial needs of the child.

Who Can Be Adopted

Because Ecuador is party to The Hague Adoption Convention, children from Ecuador must meet the requirements of the Convention in order to be eligible for adoption. For example, the adoption may take place only if the competent authorities of Ecuador determine placement of the child within Ecuador has been given due consideration and an intercountry adoption is in the child’s best interest. In addition to Ecuador’s requirements, a child must meet the definition of Convention adoptee to be eligible for an immigrant visa to bring him or her to the United States.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Abandonment: Children who have been declared abandoned by a judge are eligible for intercountry adoption. The abandonment is formalized with a decree called “Sentencia de Adoptabilidad.”

Age of Adoptive Child: The Central Authority matches children of all ages. However, children older than four years have adoption priority.

Special Needs or Medical Conditions: The Central Authority prioritizes the adoption of children with special needs or medical conditions.

Waiting Period or Foster Care: Matching periods range from several months to years.

How to Adopt

WARNING: Do not adopt or obtain legal custody of a child in Ecuador before a U.S. consular officer issues a letter (referred to as a Hague Adoption Convention “Article 5 Letter”) to Ecuador’s Central Authority. The letter is issued in any intercountry adoption involving U.S. citizen parents and a child from Ecuador when all Convention requirements are met and the consular officer determines the child appears eligible to immigrate to the United States. Read on for more information.

Ecuador’s Adoption Authority

Subsecretaria de Protección Especial
Ministerio de Inclusión Económica y Social

The Process

Because Ecuador is party to the Hague Adoption Convention, adopting from Ecuador must follow a specific process. A brief summary is given below. You must complete these steps. Adoptions completed out of order may result in the child not being eligible for an immigrant visa to the United States.

Choose a U.S. accredited Adoption Service Provider approved to operate in Ecuador

Apply with USCIS for Determination of Suitability to Adopt

Be matched with a child by authorities in Ecuador

Apply to USCIS to determine the child’s eligibility for classification as a Convention adoptee

Full and Final Adoption of child in Ecuador

Apply for an immigrant visa for your child in order to return home

1. Choose a U.S. accredited Adoption Service Provider Approved to Operate in Ecuador

The recommended first step in adopting a child from Ecuador is to select an Adoption Service Provider accredited in the United States to provide such services. Only these agencies may act as the primary provider in your case and are responsible to act in accordance with The Hague Adoption Convention and U.S. laws and regulations. Learn more about Agency Accreditation.

To obtain updated information regarding which U.S. Adoption Service Providers are authorized by the Ecuadorian Central Authority, prospective adoption parents may contact the U.S. Consulate General in Guayaquil or the Central Authority directly.

2. Apply with USCIS for Determination of Suitability to Adopt

After you choose an accredited Adoption Service Provider, you must apply to be found eligible to adopt by the responsible U.S. government agency, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), by submitting Form I-800A. Read more about Eligibility Requirements.

Once USCIS determines you are “eligible” and “suited” to adopt by approving the Form I-800A, your adoption service provider will provide your approval notice, home study, and any other required information to the adoption authority in Ecuador as part of your adoption dossier. Ecuador’s adoption authority will review your application to determine whether you are also eligible to adopt under Ecuador’s law. This process may take up to one year, or longer.

3. Be Matched with a Child by Authorities in Ecuador

If both the United States and Ecuador determine you are eligible to adopt and the Central Authority determines a child is available for adoption and intercountry adoption is in the child’s best interests, the Central Authority in Ecuador may provide you with a referral for a child. The referral is a proposed match between you and a specific child based on a review of your dossier and the needs of a specific child in Ecuador. The Central Authority will provide a background study and other information, if available, about the child to help you decide whether or not to accept the referral. Prospective adoptive parent(s) must express acceptance of the referral in writing. Each family must decide whether or not it will be able to meet the needs and provide a permanent home for a particular child. If you accept the referral, the Adoption Service Provider communicates the decision to the Central Authority. Learn more about this critical decision.

4. Apply to USCIS to Determine the Child’s Eligibility for Classification as a Convention Adoptee

After you accept a match with a child, you will apply to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for provisional approval for the child to immigrate to the United States (Form I-800). USCIS will make a provisional determination as to whether the child meets the definition of a Convention Adoptee and will be eligible to enter the United States and reside permanently as an immigrant.

After provisional approval of Form I-800, your Adoption Service Provider or you will submit an immigrant visa application to the Consular Section of the U.S. Consulate General in Guayaquil, Ecuador. This is the only designated location for issuing immigrant visas in Ecuador. A consular officer will review the Form I-800 and the visa application for possible visa ineligibilities and advise you of options for the waiver of any noted ineligibilities.

5. Full and FinalAdoption of child in Ecuador

NOTE: For children adopted by two parents, Ecuadorian law requires both parents travel to Ecuador for the official integration period with the child and for the initial court date. Only one parent is required to remain in Ecuador following the initial hearing with the judge. Should one parent choose to return to the United States, the departing parent must go to an Ecuadorian notary to prepare a travel authorization to be then presented to the court for final adoption paperwork. The Family, Childhood and Adolescence Court Unit (Unidades Judiciales de Familia, Mujer, Niñez y Adolescencia) will annotate its authorization for the one parent to travel out of Ecuador with the adopted child.

The process for finalizing the adoption in Ecuador generally includes the following:

Role of Adoption Authority: The Central Authority oversees the entire adoption process and issues the Certificate of Conformity (Article 23 letter).

Role of the Court: After the integration period, provisional custody is awarded to the prospective adoptive parents. The orphanage will issue a report attesting to the compatibility and bonding of the child and the prospective adoptive parents. The report is reviewed by the Technical Adoption Unit and then the Adoptive Service Provider files the petition before the court. The judge will review the application, including the integration report, all supporting documents, psychological reports and financial statements. The prospective adoptive parents will then appear in court to finalize the adoption. The adoption decree becomes final three days after issuance. At that point, the adoptive parent(s) can obtain a birth certificate for their child from the Civil Registry Office. The new birth certificate will include the name(s) of the parent(s) and the new name for the child as per the adoption decree. With this new birth certificate, the parent(s) (or the Adoption Service Provider on their behalf) can obtain an Ecuadorian identity card (cedula) and an Ecuadorian passport for the child.

Role of Adoption Agencies: The Government of Ecuador requires prospective adoptive parents work through an accredited U.S. Adoption Service Provider that has signed an agreement with the Government of Ecuador. The agency can provide you with an estimate of costs associated with the adoption process. A list of these agencies may be obtained from the U.S. Consulate General in Guayaquil. Before traveling to Ecuador, we recommend you confirm with the Adoption Service Provider the services they provide in-country. Although the Ecuadorian government requires Adoption Service Providers assist and guide you through the adoption process in Ecuador, families report differing levels of support.

Time Frame: Once in Ecuador, following the issuance of the Article 5 Letter, the process generally takes approximately six to eight weeks.

Adoption Fees: In the adoption services contract you sign at the beginning of the adoption process, your agency should itemize the fees and estimated expenses related to your adoption process. The Central Authority does not charge for administrative processing.

Some of the fees (excluding airfare and lodging) specifically associated with adopting from Ecuador typically include: translations, notarial services, a new birth certificate, an Ecuadorian passport, and a medical exam fee, all of which typically adds up to about $400.

Documents Required:Note: For any documents from the United States, certifications, notarizations and apostilles must be completed in the United States before the prospective adoptive parents travel to Ecuador or prior to submitting the application for adoption. Translations may be completed while in Ecuador. Additional documents may be requested at any stage of the adoption.

The following documents are required by the Central Authority:

Original birth certificates for the prospective adoptive parent(s)

Marriage certificate, if applicable

Divorce certificate(s), if applicable

Death certificate, if the prospective adoptive parent is widow(er)

Copy of passport(s)

Copy of the applicable state law regulating adoptions in the prospective adoptive parents’ state of residence

Copy of the Home Study Report submitted as part of the I-800A

Police reports from the place of residence of the prospective adoptive parents

Job letters verifying employment and salary

Latest available Income Tax Return

Adoption Service Provider certification of Suitability to Adopt for prospective adoptive parent(s)

Authentication of Documents: You may be asked to provide proof a document from the United States is authentic. The United States and Ecuador are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention. U.S. public documents may be authenticated with Apostilles by the appropriate U.S. Competent Authority in the United States.

6. Apply for an Immigrant Visa for your Child in Order to Return Home

Once your adoption is complete, you need to apply for the following documents before your child can travel to the United States:

Birth Certificate

Once the adoption is finalized, apply for a birth certificate for your child. The Adoption Service Provider should be able to assist you obtaining the new birth certificate from the Civil Registry.

Ecuadorian Passport

Your child is not yet a U.S. citizen, so he/she will need a passport from Ecuador. You can apply for an Ecuadorian passport for your child at any of the passport offices throughout the country. The passport fee is $70 and passports may be processed and ready the same day.

Certificate of Conformity (Article 23 Letter)

The Adoption Service Provider will deliver the adoption decree to the Central Authority in order to obtain a Certificate of Conformity (Article 23 Letter). This letter will be required at the time of the immigrant visa interview. Verify all of your biographical information and the biographical information of your adopted child is correct.

U.S. Immigrant Visa

After you obtain the new birth certificate and passport for your child, visit the U.S Consulate in Guayaquil, Ecuador for final review of the case, issuance of a U.S. Hague Adoption Certificate, final approval of Form I-800, and your child’s immigrant visa. This immigrant visa allows your child to travel home with you. As part of this process, the consular officer must be provided the Panel Physician’s medical report on the child, if it was not provided during the provisional approval stage. Read more about the Medical Examination.

Once you have the documents listed above, you or your Adoption Service Provider may request an immigrant visa interview by emailing the request and a copy of the child’s passport biographical data page to IVGuayaquil@state.gov. The Consulate prioritizes adoption immigrant visa requests. The Consulate will also provide information on how to update the child’s information for his immigrant visa application (DS-260).

On the day of the interview, you and your child should come to the Consulate in Guayaquil at your scheduled time and bring:

Child’s Ecuadorian passport

Child’s birth certificate

Certificate of Conformity (Article 23 Letter)

Final adoption decree

Medical examination

For Ecuador, immigrant visa cases are only processed at the U.S. Consulate General in Guayaquil.

Child Citizenship Act

For adoptions finalized abroad prior to the child’s entry into the United States: A child will acquire U.S. citizenship upon entry into the United States if the adoption was finalized prior to entry and the child otherwise meets the requirements of the Child Citizenship Act of 2000.

*If your child did not qualify to become a citizen upon entry to the United States, it is very important you take the steps necessary so your child does qualify as soon as possible. Failure to obtain citizenship for your child can impact many areas of his/her life including family travel, eligibility for education and education grants, and voting. Read more about the Child Citizenship Act of 2000.

Traveling Abroad

Applying for Your U.S. Passport

U.S. citizens are required to enter and depart the United States on a valid U.S. passport. Ecuador requires U.S. passports have at least six months validity beyond the travel dates. Only the U.S. Department of State has the authority to grant, issue, or verify U.S. passports.

Getting or renewing a passport is easy. The Passport Application Wizard will help you determine which passport form you need, help you to complete the form online, estimate your payment, and generate the form for you to print—all in one place.

Obtaining a Visa to Travel to Ecuador

In addition to a U.S. passport, you may also need to obtain a visa. A visa is an official document issued by a foreign country that formally allows you to visit. Where required, visas are affixed to your passport and allow you to enter a foreign nation. To find information about obtaining a visa for Ecuador, see the Department of State’s Country Specific Information.

Staying Safe on Your Trip

Before you travel, it is always a good practice to investigate the local conditions, laws, political landscape, and culture of the country. The Department of State provides Country Specific Information for every country of the world about various issues, including the health conditions, crime, unusual currency or entry requirements, and any areas of instability.

Staying in Touch on Your Trip

When traveling during the adoption process, we encourage you to enroll with the Department of State. Enrollment makes it possible to contact you if necessary. Whether there is a family emergency in the United States or a crisis in Ecuador, enrollment assists the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in reaching you.

Ecuador requires a minimum of five post-adoption reports to be forwarded to the Ecuador’s Central Authority during the first two years after the child’s adoption at the following intervals: four months, eight months, twelve months, eighteen months, and twenty-four months.

We urge you to complete all post-adoption reports in a timely manner.

Post-Adoption Resources

Many adoptive parents find it important to find support after the adoption. There are many public and private nonprofit post-adoption services available for children and their families. There are also numerous adoptive family support groups and adoptee organizations active in the United States that provide a network of options for adoptees who seek out other adoptees from the same country of origin. Take advantage of all the resources available to your family, whether it is another adoptive family, a support group, an advocacy organization, or your religious or community services.

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